VESTAL, N.Y. –  A packed arena at the Events Center saw Binghamton women's basketball (12-5, 4-0 AE) defeat UAlbany (11-6, 1-3 AE) in a nail-biting 63-61 victory on Thursday afternoon. With over 15+ school districts and 20+ classes attending today's game, a new women's basketball attendance record was set at the Events Center with 4,671 people in attendance. The Bearcats are now 7-1 at home this season.

Kaia Goode nailed two huge free throws for the Bearcats to take a 62-61 lead with 29 seconds remaining. UAlbany came down the floor looking for the go-ahead basketball, but was rejected by Kendall Bennett, forcing the Great Danes to foul the Bearcats.

Meghan Casey went to the line and made one of her two shots at the line to make it a two-point game with 10 seconds left. UAlbany sprinted down the court and sent one final shot towards the rim but was unsuccessful in stealing the victory from Binghamton.

"We've been in so many of these games when it comes down to the final stretch," head coach Mary Grimes stated after the win. "I think our team held their composure and did what they needed to do."

In the opening quarter, UAlbany was hot behind the three-point line, shooting 71.4% (5-7) from beyond the arc. The Great Danes would finish the first quarter with 23 points, the most by either team in a single quarter in Thursday's game.

Binghamton began the second quarter with a 13-5 run in the first 5:30. K. Bennett had a great first half with six buckets, totaling 13 points and eight rebounds.

Binghamton's defense put the clamps on the Great Danes, holding them to just 11 points in the second quarter, giving Binghamton the momentum to close out the first half with a five-point lead at 39-34.

A back-and-forth contest saw both teams having double-digit leads at one point, with the other side then putting together a string of runs to come back and make it a close game once again.

Carletta Bennett became the difference maker in Thursday's game. The freshman guard had a career-best 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting and went 3-for-4 from the three-point line. C. Bennett brought the momentum to Binghamton's side when she nailed a three with 1:42 left in the second to make it a 51-45 lead in Bing's favor. Immediately after her three, she went and took a charge on the other side of the floor, erupting the crowd and her team.

"I always just need to bring energy," C. Bennett said. "I'm honestly not worried about scoring. I just bring what I can to the team."

With the victory, Binghamton starts 4-0 in America East Conference play for the first time in program history. They currently sit at the top of the AE standings.

Binghamton will look to continue its run in AE play with a matchup in Baltimore, Md., against UMBC for a 2 p.m. start time on Saturday.